Coloring Salt Dough Recipe

There are two different options using either acrylic or powdered
paints.

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Materials and Equipment

Salt dough

Water

Knife or flat modelling tool

Bowl shaped mold

Baking paper

Baking tray

Access to an oven

Paint

Paint brushes if painting

Varnish

Varnish brush

White spirit for cleaning varnish brush

Mia's Top Tip

If you want to make a larger bowl your dough should be a bit thicker so
it doesn't crack.

You will also need to bake larger items for longer.

If
you intend to use your bowl for unwrapped food items such as shelled
nuts then check that the paints and varnishes you use are suitable.

If
you are not sure then only use your bowls for wrapped food or non edible
items.

These salt dough bowls are not waterproof but if varnished
properly you should be able to wipe them over with a damp cloth.

How To Make Salt Dough Bowls Tutorial

Roll out the dough to a thickness of approx 1cm (3/8").

Place the dough over your chosen mold.

Gently model the dough to fit snugly around the mold.

Leave the mold
in place whilst baking.

Once the dough is firm and will not lose it's
shape you can remove the mold to finish baking.

Bake in the oven
following the instructions below.

Once fully baked you can paint if you
wish. Finish with two coats of varnish to make sure the dough is sealed
and moisture can't get in.

Baking Your Salt Dough

Bake in the oven at 100oC for around 12 hours or overnight depending on the thickness of the dough.

The dough should be completely
solid when baked properly. You can test a piece by trying to insert the
tip of a safety pin into the bottom of the dough ornament, if the pin
pushes into the dough easily then continue baking.

Another test is to
gently tap the bottom of the dough ornament with your finger, it should
sound hollow if thoroughly dried.

Mia’s Craft Ideas

We made the pattern on the bowl above by pushing a patterned icing
nozzle firmly into the dough.

You can use anything to make a pattern on
the dough but make sure you press firmly or the pattern may disappear
during baking.

You can also imbed beads (as shown in the candle holder
in the photo), leaves or coins into the dough to create different
patterns.

Make sure whatever you imbed into the dough will withstand the
baking temperatures.

Make a set of tiny little bowls (use bottle caps
as molds), these make great salt dough ornaments on their own.

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